Rail-joint.



T. J. KILBURN.

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1912.

Patented M01225, 1913.

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UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. KILBURN, 0F ETHRIDGE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMESB. USSERY, OF E'lI-IRIDGE, TENNESSEE.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Mar. 25,1913.

Application filed May 15, 1912. Serial No. 697,474.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. KILBURN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ethridge, in the county of Giles and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail J oints, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in rail joints andmore particularly to a boltless rail joint and the primary object of theinvention is to provide a device of this character which, without theuse of bolts, will provide a perfect operat ing and most efficient railjoint.

Another object of the invent-ion resides in the provision of aprojection on the tread at the end of one of the rails which is adaptedto fit within a recess formed in the tread of the opposed rail and afurther object of the invention resides in the provision of projectionson the base of one rail adapted to be disposed in openings in therecesses formed in the base of the opposed rail.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a devicewhich is extremely simple and durable in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture and one which will be very efficient and useful. inoperation.

\Vith these and otherobjects in view, the invention consists in thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in thespecification and claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1is a top plan view of a pair of rails embodying my improved joint. Fig.2 is a perspective view of the meeting end of one of the rails. Fig. 3is a similar view of the opposed rail; and Fig. 4 is a verticaltransverse section as seen on line M, Fig. 1.

In describing my invention, I shall refer to the drawing in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and in which- 1 and 2 indicaterespectively a pair ofop posed rails meeting over a tie 8 and in order to form a jointtherebetween, the rail 2 has formed on the end of the tread thereof adove-tail projection 4:, which is adapted to fit within a dove-tailchannel or recess 5 formed in the tread of the opposed rail 1.

The projection 4 is so formed on the tread of the rail 2 that the upperface of the former is a continuation of the upper face of the latter, itbeing understood that the thickness of the projection 41: and thecorresponding depth of the recess or channel 5 therefor, may be any thatis less than the thickness of the treads proper of said rails and formedon the base flanges of the rail 2 are the'projections 6. Theseprojections are continuations of the upper portions of said baseflanges, thereby providing a shoulder 7 at the end of the rail and thebase flanges of the opposed rail 1 are provided with recesses 8 adaptedto receive the extensions 6 of the rail 2. The extensions 6, are, ofcourse, spaced apart the width of the web of the rail 2, and whenbrought in position to be seated in the recess 8 of the opposed rail,are disposed on opposite sides of the web of the latter so that theshoulder 7 formed at the end of the rail 2 by the provision of theseprojections 6 abuts the end of the base flanges of the rail 1.

WVhile the structure above described locks the two rails together to acertain extent, I have provided a still further securing means whichcomprises a pair of integral studs or lugs 9 formed on the inner opposedend edges of the projections 6, which studs or lugs are square in crosssection and. are adapted to fit within square openings 10 formed onopposite sides of the tread of the rail 1 in the seats 8. It has beenstated that the projections 6, when properly disposed will snuglyreceive therebetween the web of the rail 1 and when the studs 9 on saidprojections are entered within these openings 10, it will be appreciatedthat all possible longitudinal and lateral movement of said rails willbe prevented.

In practice, when it is desired to lock the two rails, the rail 1 isfirst properly positioned, whereupon the rail 2 is then moved intoposition so that the space or slot between the projections 6 thereonwill receive the web of the rail 1. In this position, the end of therail- 2 is slight-1y raised so thatwhen lowered, the dove-tailprojection 4 may be entered readily within the recess 5 ofthe opposedrail and upon the entering of this projection within the recess, thestuds 9 may be simultaneously entered within the openings 10. When theparts of the two rails are properly interlocked, spikes 11 may be drivenin the tie 3 so that the heads of the former will engage the projections6, thereby securing the oint to said tie.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple andinexpensive rail joint which will be most effective in carry ing out theobjects for which the same is designed. 7

lVhile I have particularly described the elements best adapted toperform the func' home set forth, 1t 1s obvlous that various changes inform, proportion and 1n the minor details-of construction anayberesorted to wlthout vdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe principles of the in-v vent-ion.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim is In a rail j oint,the combination with a rail having its base flanges extended beyond oneend thereof and spaced apart a distance equal to the thickness of therail web, said extended portions of the base flangesbeing most cornersof said last mentioned reduced port ons adapted to reoelve saiddepending lugs, the projected portions of the base 'fianges of :thefirst mentioned rail overlapping'the reduced port-ions of thebasefianges of 513116 second mentioned rail and forming therewith alapped joint equal inthickness to one of said base flanges.

Intesthnony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS J. K-ILBURN. WVitnesses SoLoN BUCHANAN, A. M. :HA-NNAH.

Copies of this patent may be 'obtained for five cents each,braddressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C.

